Race Action from Finale Ligure, Enduro World Series Day 1 of 2

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Anne Caroline Chausson had a great day today after her trying year and her battle with cancer that she is overcoming. 3rd place. She has chosen to call it a day and call it a career, as tomorrow she will not be riding. What an amazing person and career. She really is the greatest of all time on two wheels. Bravo. We will miss you Anne!!! -Sven Martin

Jared Graves crashed hard on Stage 3, suffering a broken helmet and a dislocated ankle in the process. Bring on 2017. -Lee Trumpore

Martin Maes was on another level today, and all week to be fair. Visibly faster every time we saw him. With a 30 second lead on the field it is his to lose really. But we all hope he will take his first EWS win. -Sven Martin

Maes Dog chilling. It's been a busy year with DH and Enduro, not to mention a broken wrist. -Sven Martin

No taking it easy. Cecile Ravanel is simply dominating in Finale, some 47 seconds up on her nearest competitor despite already having wrapped up the series title a few weeks ago in Valberg. -Lee Trumpore

Richie says he was avoiding rocks and playing it safe. Not bad when playing it safe gets you 2nd on the day. -Sven Martin

What kind of gelato does Richie prefer? Let him tell you. -Sven Martin

Adrien Dailly is not only dominating the U21 class, he's also second overall among the Elites, 10 seconds ahead of Richie Rude. -Lee Trumpore

Nico started off strong on the long steep tech stage one with a second place finish. He said he lost some time later due to tiredness. He stills aiming for top three tomorrow. -Sven Martin

Peaty racing for fun, brought out his lightest and coolest helmet, it happened to be this cool retro TLD. -Sven Martin

Caro Gehrig seventh today. A strong finish on today's physical stage means she should be looking forward to tomorrow. -Sven Martin

Gaetan Vige with three Top 10's in the U23. Not quite as good as his DH results from this season but not too bad either. -Sven Martin

Theo Galy ending his season strong like he began it in South America. 6th today. -Sven Martin

Nico Lau, solid and consistent day today sees him in third overall. But five riders are less than five seconds away from him vying for the final spot on the podium. -Sven Martin

Mark Scott had a solid day with three consistent stages for 11th place. -Sven Martin

Maurissen has been by Maes' side from day one. A cut Dirty Dan DH is Martin's rear tire of choice. -Sven Martin

Cecile on a new bike this week. With a custom bit of paint for a deserving champion. -Sven Martin

Remi and Jesse, the two Canadian Rocky riders doing well over here in Europe. Bright future for the two of them. -Sven Martin

Three World Champs and big Sam Dale go out for a chilled ride in the forest today. -Sven Martin

Exploding Carbon rims from stage one. This rock flatted about 10 riders in the twenty minutes I was there. -Sven Martin

Steve Peat, riding blind, didn't do too badly today but he did get beat by Cecile Ravanel on stage one. -Sven Martin

Matti Lehikoinen sliding into another Top 20. -Sven Martin

Raphaela Richter leads the Junior Women today by over twenty-five seconds. -Sven Martin

Sam Hill, Top 5 on stage three, he is one in the group of riders all close on times that can still make a charge for the podium tomorrow. -Sven Martin

Jerome showing sparks of brilliance today, going well but also playing it safe protecting his podium top three in the overall. -Sven Martin

Uncharacteristic 14th place today for Florian. He did get closest to 12 o'clock in the river crossing on three though. -Sven Martin

Anita Gehrig, sixth today and still looking good for third overall tomorrow. -Sven Martin

With the U21 title coming down to the wire, Sebastien Claquin will need to make up a 35-second deficit if he wants to claim the crown. -Lee Trumpore

Dimitri Tordo is not a name we're used to seeing near the top of the results sheet, but the Frenchman is sitting in 17th after the first three stages. -Lee Trumpore

The dirt in Finale sits thinly on top of solid bedrock. Wheels were paying the price of any mistake all afternoon. -Lee Trumpore

Miranda Miller is racing her fourth EWS and is currently sitting in 4th overall. -Lee Trumpore

Spiny chestnuts, sharp rocks, thorny bushes, and scorpions. Most of the regular EWS photographers are looking more scraped up than usual this weekend. -Lee Trumpore

Mark Scott's smooth style works well in Finale where carrying speed is essential. He's currently in 11th, his best result this year. -Lee Trumpore

Marco Osborne looked quickest through the bottom of Stage 1. He'd end up 7th on the stage an 15th on the day. -Lee Trumpore

Parting of the Shred Sea. The faster you go the dryer you stay. -Lee Trumpore

Isabeau Courdurier looks to be on her way to another solid second place finish, but barring some disaster it looks like the illusive first win will have to wait another year. -Lee Trumpore

Tony Ferreiro #lovesbackwheel -Lee Trumpore

The finish to Stage 3 was across a stream bed. Giving the riders and bit of refreshment after an otherwise hot and dusty day. -Lee Trumpore

Remi Gauvin is sitting in 5th after the first day of racing. Yet another breakout result from the seamingly limitless depth of talent on the Rocky Mountain team. -Lee Trumpore

Minnaar closed his eyes on the liaisons to keep it extra blind. -Damian Breach

Oh, hey. -Damian Breach

Loic lazily leans and looks in Ligure. -Damian Breach

Peaty passionately pedals profusely. -Damian Breach

Martin Maes, Cecile Ravanel and Adrien Dailly dominate their classes during the first day of the final EWS of 2016 in Finale Ligure, Italy. Sven Martin and Lee Trumpore avoid scorpions (the rider kind and the REAL kind) to bring you the trackside goods!

Vital wishes Anne-Caroline Chausson a great future as she made today her last pro race day on the bike. Her competitive spirit and success on two wheels can never be matched. Well done, ACC! We'll miss you out there.

UCI Enduro World Cup (EDR)